What do These Maps Show?

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What do These Maps Show?
To find out more click here
2
Air Pollution

• The maps you just saw show ozone smog levels on
  two days last summer.
• This map shows the highest ozone levels
  recorded in 2001.

3
Where Did Acadia Go?
Keep clicking.
4
Air Pollution Reduces Visibility
Acadia National Park A Clear Day vs A Hazy
Day

• To learn more about ozone and fine particles,
  click the arrow in the corner.

5
Air Pollution

• Has many effects on public health
  and the environment.
• Comes in different forms and from many sources.
• Ozone and Particulate matter are two types of Air
  Pollution that affect Maine.

6
What is Ozone?

• An odorless, colorless gas composed of three
  oxygen atoms.

• Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from
  the suns harmful ultraviolet rays.

• At ground-level in the air we breathe, ozone
  (smog) poses serious risks to human health.

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Where Does Ozone Come From?

• Ozone is created by a chemical reaction

VOC NOx Heat Sunlight Ozone
VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx
(Nitrogen Oxides) come from motor vehicles,
power plants, industrial facilities, and other
sources.
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Why is Ozone Bad to Breathe?

• The average adult breathes enough air to fill
  over 3,000 balloons each day. Children breathe
  even more!
• Ozone can irritate lungs and airways, and cause
  inflammation much like a sunburn on your lungs.
• Ozone can aggravate respiratory illnesses like
  asthma.
• 10 to 20 of summertime respiratory-related
  hospital visits in the Northeast are associated
  with ozone pollution.
• Children and people with chronic lung diseases
  are particularly at risk.

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Health Effects of Exposure to Ozone

• Coughing
• Nose and throat irritation
• Chest pain
• Reduced lung function
• Increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses
• Aggravation of asthma

10
The Air Quality Index
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What Makes a Bad Ozone Day in New England?
12
Ozone Trends in Maine
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Smog Alert Service

• Notifies you by e-mail or fax when ozone levels
  are predicted to be unhealthy in your area.
• Is available in most areas in New England.
• Is a free service.
• To receive Smog Alerts, register at
  (www.epa.gov/region01/oms)
• Or contact Maine DEPs
• Ozone Hotline at 1-800-223-1196 or
• www.state.me.us/dep/air/ozone/ozone.htm

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What is Particulate Matter?

• particles of different substances suspended in
  the air
• in the form of solid particles and liquid
  droplets
• particles vary widely in size

15
Where does Pm come from?

• Fine particles come from a variety of sources
• diesel trucks and buses
• construction equipment
• power plants
• woodstoves
• wildfires

• Also, Chemical reactions in the atmosphere
• can transform gases into fine particles.

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How Fine is Fine?

• Fine particles are only a fraction
• of the size of a human hair.

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Why are Fine ParticlesBad to Breathe?

• Scientific studies have linked fine particles
  with a series of significant health problems.
• Fine particles easily reach the deepest parts of
  the lungs.
• Particulate matter causes 15,000 premature deaths
  every year in the US.
• Fine particles from Diesel exhaust can cause lung
  cancer.

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Health Effects of Exposure to Fine Particles

• Premature death
• Aggravated asthma
• Respiratory-related emergency room visits and
  hospital admissions
• Acute respiratory symptoms
• Chronic bronchitis
• Decreased lung function (shortness of breath)
• People with existing heart and lung disease, as
  well as the elderly and children, are
  particularly at risk

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What Can You Do?

• Reduce vehicle emissions
• Drive less
• Keep cars well maintained and tires properly
  inflated
• Turn off the engine when your vehicle is not in
  motion
• Purchase low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles
  
• Share a ride, take public transportation bike, or
  walk
• Cut your grass after 6 p.m.
• Refuel your car after 6 p.m.
• Combine errands into one trip

?
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What Can You Do?

• Conserve electricity
• do not over-cool or over-heat buildings
• turn off lights and appliances when not in use
• Purchase electronics/appliances with energy star
  labels

To protect your health, avoid strenuous outdoor
activities when ozone levels are high
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This presentation was made possible by
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection
(www.state.me.us/dep)
The United States Environmental Protection
Agency (www.epa.gov)